Rotary machine



Aug. 17. 1926. 1,596,569

L. E. ZERBE ROTARY MACHINE Filed March 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Igwuentoz Q m N N v "Q gww d. W R

6 atto znaqra Aug. 17 1926.

L. E. ZERBE ROTARY MACHINE Filed March 5, 1924 4 Sheds-Sheet 2 Aug. 1719-26. 1,596,569

E. ZERBE ROTARY MACHINE Filed March 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 .15 55 M55' 7.9 75 j v 56 5 Aug. 17 1926.

L. E. ZERBE ROTARY MACHINE Filed March 5. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedAug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATE-IS 1,596,569 PAT NT. OFFICE.

LEWIS E. ZERBE, OF MONE'IA, CALIFORNIA, .ASSIGNOR TO Ulil'ION TOOLCOMPANY, OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIIORNIA.

ROTARY MACHINE.

1924. Serial No. 696,490.

This invention relates to rotary machines in the accompanying detaileddescription of of the type employed in drilling wells by the" rotarymethod, and relates more especially to that type of rotarymachine'cap'able of use for screwing and unscrewing casing and apreferred embodiment of the invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Fig. l is an elevation, mainly in middrill pipe as well as rotating thedrill stem. section, of a rotary machine constructed in An object of theinvention is to facilitate adj utment of the'machine to meet the variousrequirements. In other words, to put the machine in a condition fordrilling, for screwing together casing or drill pipe sections and forunscrewing casing or drill pipe sections.

A further object is to provide a construction that can be used withalmost equal facility for drilling smaller and larger wells, since thelarger rotary drill bits can pass through the table opening, thusavoiding the necessity'of elevating the rotary. machine while such.larger bits' are being screwed on or-ofi the drill pipe.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction in'whichthe selective adjustment of the machine for the two functions ofdrillingand screwing or unscrewing casing or drill pipe is accomplishedsolely by the vertical position of an adjustable sleeve and withoutrecourse to movable dogs,'pins, latches, etc., which are a great sourceof weakness in all drilling machines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a drilling machine inwhich the selective engagement between the adjustable sleeve and therotary table and-the stationary base respectively are accomplished byengagement between lugs and sockets formed integral with the structureof the sleeve,

'table and base respectively.

A further object of this invention is to provide a drilling machine inwhich the drilling position of the sleeve shall be such that its top issubstantially flush with the top of the rotary table.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary drillingapparatus which is of such construction and manner of assembly that thesame may be easily converted from make and break type of rotary totheordinary or standard type by merely changing the sleeve employed, whichrotary, when so converted from the make and break to standard, will besimple and free from complex appurtenances.

Other objects and advantages will appear accordance with the provisionsof this invention, the adjustable sleeve being in its lower orstationary position. fragment of pipe is shown in place in the-slips,pipe wrenches are shown on the p-ipe, and the parts are in position forscrewing-one section of the pipe to the other.

Fig. 2 is a reduced plan view of the machine. the table being in sectionand the sleeve and bushing being omitted.

Fig. 3 is an edge view oi Fig. 2, partly in longitudinal midsectio iFigs l is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line indicated by 1-4,Fig. 2, the sleeve,

bushings and slips being omitted. v

Fig. 5 is'a fragmental plan view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmentalsectional detail on the line indicated by 6-6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is anelevation, mainly in section. on the line indicated by 77, Fig. 8,showing the adjustable sleeve in its upper posi tion for being rotated.

- Fig. 8 is a fragmental plan view of Fig.; 7, partly in section on theline indicated 88, Fig. 7. v

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the adjustable sleeve. showing thesockets for receivin the hooks of a tackle wherewith to adjust t esleeve to its different positions and elevating the sleeve fordisengaging the drilling bit.

V Fig. 10 is an inverted plan view of a sleeve that may be substitutedfor the adjustable sleeve.

Fig. 11 is a side view, partly in section, of the sleeve-shown in Fig.10.

Fig. .12 is an edge view, partly in section,

of the foot rest.

Fig. 13 is a reduced plan view of the table with the sleeve, masterbushing and slips basell carries bearings 12, 13, in which is journaleda shaft 14. driven by a sprocket wheel 15, or other suitable drivingmember. The shaft 14 is provided with a spur pinion 16-which meshes witha rin spur gear 17 on a rota table 18. The tab e is mounted onantifriction bearings 19 of any suitable construction and is provided ata distancebelow its upper face with an external annular flange 20covered by an overhanging li 21 which prevents upward motion of thetalble 18 relative to the table base 22 .on which the bearing 19 ismounted. The table base 22 is mounted on the skids 10. The table 18 isprovidedwith a central'opening 23 and has a portion 24 of reduceddiameter extending into the bore 25 of the table base, 22.

The means for locking the sleeve 26 to the table 18-when such sleeve isin the rotating position for drilling or like purposes is illustradtedin the preferred form in Figures. 7 an 8.

Projecting into the bore 23 of the table 18 is a series of equalsegmental lugs 29 situated in a horizontal plane, and which lugs areequally spaced one from the other a distance greater than the width ofthe arcuate lugs 27 to provide channels 30. At each end of eachsegmental lug 29 is-a clutch jaw 28 which projects vertically from theupper plane edge surface of the lugs 29. The clearance between theclutch jaws 28 of each lug 29 is slightly greater than the width of thearcu-ate lugs 27. The arcuate lugs 27 project from or are formedintegral with the sleeve 26 and are equally spaced on the circumferenceof the sleeve 26 at an elevation on the sleeve sufficient to support thesleeve 26 in a position to clear or be disengaged from the base 22, andso that the top of the sleeve 26 will be substantially level with thetop of the table 18. The lugs 27 are of equal number and correspondingposition in relation to the lugs 29.

By this means the sleeve 26-may be supported by the lugs 27 resting uponthe upper lane edge surface 'of the lugs 29, m whic position the lugs 27may be engaged by the edge clutch jaws 28 and be-rotated with the table18. It will be observed the sleeve 26 is free to be disengaged from thelugs 29 and the clutch jaws 28 and moved to its lower position to beengaged with the base 22. The lugs 27 during this movement pass throughthe channels 30 provided between each consecutive pair of lugs 29 andaccompanying jaws 28.

In the lower or fixed position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the sleeve 26is supported by the inwardly projecting equally spaced segmental lugs 32positioned at the lower inner inward end of the base 22. When the sleeve26 is thus supported by the lugs 32,

a corresponding series of like equally spaced lugs 31 at the lower endof the sleeve 26, project downwardly into the spaces between the lugs 32and lock the sleeve 26 against rotation.

' ing the sections. This post 49 and wrench It will be observed thatallthe lugs 27, 28, 29 and 31 and 32 are integral with the respectivemembers 26, 18 and 22, and the c anging from the rotating to the fixedposition or the reverse is accomplished solely by the movement of thesleeve 26;

The bore wall of the sleeve 26 is provided near its upper end withspaced notches 43 to accommodate spaced outwardly projecting lugs 34 ofa split internally tapered master bushing 35. The tapered face of thebush ing 35 is indicated at 36 and said'tapered face is for the purposeof wedging inwardly slips 37 are tapered on their outer faces asindicated at 38. When the master bushing 35 is in place the lugs 34 seaton the bottom walls of the notches 43, thus supporting the bushing inthe sleeve.

When the drill pipe'is to be rotated by a drill stem, not shown, in amanner well understood in this art, there may be substituted for theslips 37 a split drive bushing 39 (see Fig. 8) having a circular flange40 and provided beneath the flange with outwardly'projecting lugs 44seating in notches 41 in the bore wall of the master bushing 35. Thisdrive bushing 39 is also provided with an externally tapered face 42 tofit the tapered face 36 of the master bushing 35. In prior constructionsthe flange of the drive bushing is of square construction fitting in asquared recess in the master bushing and it cannot, therefore, beassembled in place as readily as when the lugs and notches are employedas above described, said lugs and notches interlocking to preventrelative rotation of the bushings 35, 39. The employment of the lug andnotch type herein described is' preferred, but the invention is notlimited thereto and the prior' square type may be employed if desired.

The table .18 is provided in itsupper face with one or more post sockets45 in any one of which is removably seated a post 46. The post 46 formsan abutment adapted to be engaged by the handle of a pipe wrench 47which is clamped upon the upper pipe section when screwing together thepipe sections, as'clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The master bushing 35 is provided at its upper end with a socket 48 inwhichis removablyseated a post 49 which constitutes an'abutment for thehandle of a pipe wrench 50. sometimes employed on the lower oneof thepipe sections while screwing or unscrewneed only be employed when thestring of pipe is comparatively short, as the longer string will befirmly held by the slips against rotation relative to the master bushing35.

Assuming that the parts are positioned as in Fig. 1, and that it isdesired to screw the upper section of pipe onto the lower section,

. the shaft 14 is driven by' any suitable power in a direction to rotatethe. table 18 in a will be carried around the-axis of the pipe by therotating table, thus turning the wrench 47 and effecting turning of theupper pipe section in a direction to screw it onto the lower section.

If it is desired to unscrew the sections, the wrench handle 47 may .bepositioned to engage the opposite side of the post 46 and table 18driven oounIter-clockwfise. (If 'a post 49 be employed it'is likewisereversed.) Another way of effecting the unscrewing ,operation is toraise the sleeve 26 to the rotating position where it is operablyconnected to the table 18, remove the post 46 and hold the handle of theWrench 47 stationary while driving the table 18 in a clockwisedirection. The handle of the wrench 47, in this operation may be heldagainst turning by any suitable means, such, for example, as a postplaced in either of the holes 51 provided in the base 22.

Assuming, for example, that the pipe a is drill pipe and that a newsection has been screwed on, as described above, the drill pipe will besuspended by an elevator, not shown,

in a manner well understood in this art. The sleeve 26 will be raised,its lugs 27 interlocked with the lugs 28 and the drill stem connectedwith the drill pipe in a manner well understood in this art. Then thehalves of the drive bushing 39 will-be slipped into place, in the masterbushing 35 to embrace the drill stem. The table 18 will then be rotated,thus effecting rotation of the drill pipe in the customary manner.

In removing a drill bit from the well, if,

sleeve out of the table, said sleeve is pro- 30 vided with openings 52(see Fig. 9) cut through the flange to admit of the entrance of hookscarried by hoisting tackle, not shown. Adjacent to the openings 52, the

flange is provided with raised portions 53, beneath which the hoistinghooks catch.

Means (shown in Figure 10) are provided for converting the rotarymachine from the make and break type heretofore described to thestandard type of rotary, which means comprises only the substitution ofthe sleeve 26 for the sleeve 26, and which rotary when so converted, itwill be observed from the following, is entirely free from allappurtenances unnecessary to the operation of a standard type of rotary.This sleeve 26 locks only to the table 18 and, according- 1y, isprovided with lugs 27 to engage the seats 29. These lugs 27 correspondto the lugs 27 of the sleeve 26, but the sleeve 26 is also provided withanother series of lugs 54 alternating with the lugs 27 and adapted tofit in the inter-lug channels 30. This insures against the operatorpositioning the sleeve so that the lugs 27 are in the channels 30' andthe comparatively thin flange of the sleeve supporting the sleeve.- Thechannels 30 are slightly longer than the lugs 27 lugs 27 and seats 29,while the channels and lugs 54 are of the same length- Though the sleeve26 is not adjustable to different levels and cannot be locked to thebase, it can be removed from the table the same as the sleeve 26 when abit of larger diameter than the bore of the sleeve is to be run in orout of the well.

' The lip 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, encircles the table exceptingfor a short dis tance adjacent to thepinion 16 and said lip is formed ona sectional ring 55 which completely encircles the table and joins thehearing 13. The ring 55 has a recess 56 in its inner face to accommodatethe pinion 16. Thus, the bearing 19 is substantially sealed. The lowerrace 57 of the bearing 19 is mounted in an oil groove 58 which is belowthe level of the flange 20 and lip 21 so that the bearing balls, orother similar antifriction elements employed, will at all times run inoil. The oil is supplied to the groove 58 through a duct 59 (see Figure2) leading from a reservoir 60 mounted on the table base. By mountingthe oil reservoir 60 in tion of the rotary machine able to inspect thereservoir 60 and fill the same without the necessity of stopping therotation of the table 18.

The upper faces of the table 18 and sleeve 26 may be preferably providedwith aline ment indications 61, 62, respectively, which are in alinementwhen the table and sleeve are relatively positioned to permit of thesleeve lugs 27 passing through the channels The lugs 27 27 28. 34. 44,54, notches 41, 43 and channels 30 all preferably have chamfered edges63 so that the sleeves and bushing will readily slide into place eventhough perfect alinement of the lugs and notches or channels has notbeen effected by the operator.

The ring gear 17 preferably is shrunk upon an annular shoulder 64 on thetable 18, and is provided between its periphery and the outer ends ofits teeth with an annular groove 67. The groove 67 deflects mud ordetritus projected by the table and pre vents the same from flowing overand under the table top into the gear teeth.

One corner of the base 22 is provided with a foot rest 68, shown in Fig.12, against which a helper may brace his foot in performing someof thenecessary operations in drilling a well. The lower end 69 of the footrest is wedge-shape and fits between lugs 70 on the upper face of thetable base 22, said lugs extending aslant toward each other. A bolt 71passes from the foot-rest into the table base 22 and the lugs 70 preventrotation of said foot-rest by pressure that may be brought to beareccentrically of the longitudinal'axis of the bolt 71.

The employment of the adjustable sleeve 26 as the means ofinterchangeably converting the machine from a direct rotary drive-to orfrom a pipe screwing machine, provides a machine adapted for suchconversion, which is extremely simple in manufacture and use, and whicheliminates the hand power necessary to screw pipe, wrench jerk lines,and other inconveniences of ordinary rotary operations, without thecomplication and attendant expense of the conprising a table base, arotary table mounted on the base and provided with a central bore, asleeve positioned in the bore and adapted to be either locked to thebase or to the table, the looking to the base or to the tablebeing-accomplished solely by movement of the sleeve.

52. A rotary well drilling machine, comprlsing a table base, a rotarytable mounted on the base and. provided with a central and having acentral bore, a sleeve positioned within the bore of the table,complcmentary clutch members integral with the table and sleeverespectively, complementary clutch members integral with the base andsleeve respectively, the last named base, a table rotatably mounted onthe base 'i clutch members being engaged only when the first namedclutch members are disengaged.

at. A rotary machine comprising a table base, a table rotatably mountedon the base and having a central bore, a sleeve mounted in the bore andadapted to be moved vertically to engage either the table or the base, aseries of spacedv segmental. lugs formed integral with the table andpro-- jecting inwardly into the bore in a single horizontal plane, aseries of arcuate lugs formed integral with the sleeve and projectingoutwardly therefrom in position to be engaged on the upper plane surfaceof the said segmental lugs to support the sleeve, a clutch jaw formedintegral with and at each end of each segmental lug and adapted toengage thearcuate lugs to rotate the sleeve with the table, channelsformed between the segmental lugs of slightly greater width than thewidth of the arcuate lugs so that when the sleeve is moved vertically toprovide selective engagement with the base and table, the arcuate lugswill pass through the channels,

and a second series of segmental lugs integral with the base and adaptedto engage a series of lugs on the lower end of the sleeve when the samehas-been moved into engagement with the base. a

Signed at Torrance, Calif, this 27th day of February, 1924.

' LEWIS ZERBE.

